Diversions

Posted Jan 15, 2014

I haven't painted in over a month. Overall 2013 was probably my best and most productive year as an artist, I completed 9 paintings and sold 3. And I'm even almost satisfied with the quality of some of the work! But, the year ended by me accepting a big project from one of my website clients (I build websites for a living), and because of the scope and deadline involved it pretty much consumed me for a month and a half. I had to put the brushes down.

But you know, I realize something as I was working on programming and building that website. I've spent a lot of years learning and developing my skills as a web developer - as much, if not even more time, than I've spent learning to paint & draw. And I have to say, at the end of a good programming day I often sit back and think - wow, that was really fun! Honestly, programming and crafting websites is a lot of fun. I really enjoy it. I especially enjoy learning new skills, new technologies. And there is so much happening in the field right now, it's a very exciting thing to be a part of. I feel very blessed and fortunate to have this skill, and I think it was a wise choice for me to move in that direction.

But I also know that it's time to get back to the easel. I try not to worry too much about questions like "am I really a serious artist?" or "why can't I focus on one pursuit?". I don't need to make a living with my art, programming has provided a good living. I don't need to sell my work. I need to make good art. I am an artist, and a programmer. I love both. That's not going to change.

Art calls me back, and to a certain extent I will never be fully satisfied unless I am working on new paintings and new artistic pursuits. I know (from experience) that if I spend too much time just working for my website clients - or any "job" for others, I begin to get very anxious.. it's like I'm not doing something incredibly important that I should be doing. I feel like there's a reason I was given this talent. I have an obligation to use it, to improve it, to make good works with it. But I also know that God blessed me with an aptitude for programming, as means to an end, and I'm so grateful for that.

I also really enjoy teaching, and I'm very proud of the work I've been privileged to do over the past 14 years in teaching at the Art Institute - but that's a different, although very related story.

Tom Wheeler is a northwest artist, and realist artist. He lives in Battle Ground WA, (Southwest WA), near Portland Oregon. Tom loves to paint landscapes, nature scenes, people, and water. Rivers and rocky riverbeds feature prominently in his art. He also enjoys painting the northwest coast. In his work he tries to achieve a loose painterly style at times, and at other times he shows more control and rendering abilities. He paints in a realistic style.